The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has cleared the former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko to run for the Mombasa gubernatorial seat in the August election.

IEBC cleared Sonko on Thursday afternoon following a High Court Order that directed the commission to gazette Sonko’s name among the Mombasa gubernatorial aspirants.

The High Court’s Judge Stephen Githinji ruled IEBC acted unfairly when it locked Sonko out of the Mombasa gubernatorial race.

Githinji also said the commission was not reasonable in rejecting certified copies of Sonko’s academic certificates outside the stipulated time.

Sonko went to the IEBC offices on Thursday afternoon to be cleared by the County Returning Officer Yusuf Swalha.

Read More

  1. Mike Sonko, 16 other accused walk free in Sh357 million graft case
  2. LSK stands tall in defense of judicial independence against Ruto's 'bullying'
  3. It's 40 years in jail for Naftali Kinuthia for brutal murder of his ex-lover Ivy Wangeci

He was accompanied by his running mate, the Kisauni MP Ali Mbogo and his supporters who chanted praises to Sonko once it was clear Sonko was going to be on the ballot.

While speaking after receiving his clearance certificate, Sonko said he will not spare any efforts in ensuring he puts up a spirited campaign to clinch the seat.

Sonko rubbished claims that President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga prevailed over the court to ensure he was on the ballot.

He also thanked his party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, for believing in him.

“The Judiciary is an independent arm of Government. I can assure you that neither Uhuru nor Raila made a call to the judges to clear me. I have slightly more than 20 days to campaign. That’s enough for me to lodge a successful gubernatorial bid. I want to thank Kalonzo Musyoka for believing in me,” Sonko said.

Sonko will face it off with ODM’s Abdulswamad Nassir and UDA’s Omar Hassan.

Sonko has been in and out of the court to contest petitions that sought to bar him from contesting in the Mombasa gubernatorial race on grounds that the Nairobi County Assembly impeached him from office.

IEBC and its Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) put up a spirited legal fight against Sonko's legal team to prove that Sonko is not fit to run in any elective position.